In yet another film patterned on _The Seven Samurai_or Magnificent Seven- a band of diverse heroes in outer space are assembled to defend a planet of peaceful colonists from an armada of aggressors. If the special effects look familiar, it is because you've the same space sequences recycled in other low budget SF films.

Film poster for Battle Beyond the Stars Directed by Jimmy T. Murakami Produced by Ed CarlinRoger Corman Written by Anne Dyer (Story)John Sayles (Screenplay) Starring Richard ThomasRobert VaughnGeorge PeppardJohn SaxonDarlanne Fluegel Music by James Horner Cinematography Daniel Lacambre Editing by Allan HolzmanRobert J. Kizer Distributed by New World Pictures Release date(s) September 8, 1980 Running time 105 min. Country United States Language English Budget $2,000,000 (estimated) Allmovie profile IMDb profile

Battle Beyond the Stars is a Roger Corman-produced science fiction film, directed by Jimmy T. Murakami and released in 1980. The film is notable in that the screenplay was partly written by John Sayles, the score was by James Horner and the special effects were directed by James Cameron. Several of the effects shots were re-used for other films throughout the 1980's. An example of this can be seen during the movie theater fight scene at the end of Bachelor Party. Additionally the space ship models and effects were re-used in the film Space Raiders.

Battle Beyond the Stars is a big sci fi space epic which contains all the things you could ask for in a space oriented opera;many strange alien beings,an evil overlord with a massive spaceship,other worldly planets,implausable space fight scenes,androids,a talking space ship,well known,if down on their luck actors in roles you may not expect them to be in,the underdog overcoming the evil force in the galaxy,and not forgetting a romance involving the lead characters.This movie suceeds someplaces and fails other places as well.It is better than most of those post Star Wars rip offs,but no where is it as grand,clever entertainment as that epic turned out to be.In otherwords,like many type movies,it just dosen't stick with you after you watch it and want to see the further adventures of these characters and situation,that they appear in.Just see it and thats about it.The model impressive to a point,is just old models grewed together to look like those big special effects star ships of Star Wars.The acting ok,but no where does it go into epic drama as those players in the Star Wars Trillogies.The characters and situations creative to a point,but fail to go further,than well this another cheapo,low budget film by Roger Corman.

[edit] ProductionPrior to production, a Hollywood trade paper announced that John Wayne would star in the film under the direction of Ingmar Bergman. In all likelihood this was a joke either by the trade paper or the film's publicist. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film produced by Roger Corman - much of the budget allegedly went toward paying the salaries of George Peppard and Robert Vaughn.

Some of the audio effects such as laser blasts are re-use of sounds from the "Battlestar Galactica" series. One of the main star ships seen in the movie was noted for appearing to have a breast-shaped front to the ship. (As seen in the movie poster) The film is notable for the enormous amount of up and coming talent who worked on it. James Cameron got his start doing Art Direction for the film, Gale Anne Hurd produced, James Horner wrote one of his first film scores for the picture, and John Sayles wrote the script.

[edit] PlotThe story is a pastiche of Akira Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai and its western remake, The Magnificent Seven. The farmers of the peaceful planet Akir, (duh)-named in honor of Akira Kurosawa, are threatened by the space tyrant Sador (played by Corman regular John Saxon,who dosen't bring in much of a villianous preformance carrying the old Eli Wallach role).Sador works with Kelvin,who are green skinned scared henchmen types,mute aliens,who have no voice or ears,but comminicate throught heat.How this is done,is never explained.

''The peace loving inhabitants of the planet Akir are threatened with extintion unless they submit to a ruthless conquorer,Sador,who poses the most awesome weapon in the universe-a stellar converter.''.I guess the Empire isn't around in other parts of the universe,with a Death Star or the Borg don't exist here in this universe,with Borg Cubes.While Sador is engaged in eliminating his bad headaches and plastic face,plus other planets which refuses to submit,the Akira-would that not be Akirans ?and not Akira have a breif spell in which organize a defence campaign.I guess,nobody else,is using this time to also organize a defefense campaign or least ways,we didn't see themm arrive in time for the great epic battle to come.Love hollyweird general statement writing to up the pressure on the heroes,while falling on their asses with it makes no sense plot point.If Sadors goes around blowing planets,you'd every free star system would be out for his blood.See.this where sticking close the bandit idea of the Magnifiscent Seven and not using the great threat to all planets of space would have worked their favor.You up the plot point to a series of galactic worlds,the little bandit idea falls through and you get an rebel alliance of free worlds,not one village against a bunch of bandits,hiring guns to fight for them.

Richard Thomas plays Shad, who looks out of placehere,in this story-only casted because,he played John Boy on the Waltons,who sets out to recruit a band of mercenaries to fight Sador. The high point of his character,really is the breast ship he flies and it's talking artificial intilligent computer,Nell with a female voice of Lynn Carlin-other than that,there not much I can say about Shad-because as a stand in for either Luke Skywalker or Yule Brenners Chris,the gun for hire,he played in the Magnificent Seven.This band includes Gelt, played by Robert Vaughn in a part that is essentially a reprise of his role in The Magnificent Seven with many of the same lines of dialogue; His character,wasn't much more than a quite ,stiff talking hard ass-little more than the character,he'd often play as an irretating audience member of Conan O'Brien-who'd tell the talk show host what would he do-when he's alone in the night.The deadly assassin Gelt,has amassed a large fortune from his assassination,yet is hunted throughtout the galaxy.This is a subplot tossed in to give him a deadly character,whereas George Lucas,would given it as a sub plot for his character in the next chapter of a series of movies,but here it's just a throw away character motive.Gelt,lives on a planet alone,sleeps with his back to the wall,when he can sleep,and only way John Boy-I mean Shad can temp him into joining his fight is offer him food and a place to hide.

Robert Vaughn in BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS

Shad: [after Gelt dies] Prepare a meal unknown (extra): A meal, sir? Shad: Full course. Bury it with him. unknown (extra): Bury it? Shad: That was our arrangement. A meal and a place to hide.

George Peppard (who was originally considered to play Vin, Steve McQueen's character, in The Magnificent Seven) as a space cowboy; Peppard,looks like Banacek,on a space drinking binch,dressed up as a urban cowboy,despensing drinks from his utilty belt gadget and Saint-Exmin, a member of the alien Valkyrie race, played by Sybil Danning.mostly there for her cleavage,which networks wanted to cover up,when the movie was shown on network tv.Go figure.Her character,isn't much beyond,that despite,the creators and her trying to put more into the role,like her death scream. Her race the Valkiri-sort of corn ball name,have a motto ''Live fast,die young and have a beautiful ending.''

The rest of the interstellar Magnificent Seven,include-a bunch of flying saucer aliens,Nestor-five clones who work in unison,because they are telepathically link.A neet idea-but the execution here kinda sucks-with white skin and bulby heads.A lizard character,Cayman,who isn't beyond his make up.His planet was destroyed by Sador and his stiff headached acting.Nanelia-beautiful daughter of some doctor character-who I remember as Sam Jaffe's head sticking out of a hole ,like a head on a plate.

The film contains many of the clichés that came to dominate sci-fi films following Star Wars including giant spaceships, exotic aliens and the finale of a suicidal assault on a space fortress.Like the Magnicent Seven,that it tries to imatate,each character death scene,looks staged and forced-like when Robert Vaugh,stupidly gets killed by unseen gunfire or Jame Coburn is shot by bandits unknown or Charles Bronson,is killed by unseen bandits,trying to protect the village kids.

Footage from the movie was used in the creation of the laser disk game Astron Belt.When this film debuted in the summer of 1980, little note was made of it other than being a ripoff of "Star Wars". And ofcourse,to a point it was,being that the the heroic characters of Star Wars,were infact,George Lucases,version to the Magnificent Seven.1)Luke Skywalker,2)Obi Wan Ben Kenobi,3)Han Solo.4)Chewbacca.5)Princess Leah.6)C3PO and 7)R2D2-making seven heroes in all-Londo Callrisian as Ben Kenobi's replacement.It is little wonder someone tried to place the Magnificent Seven in space.Shame here is,.why hasn't someone tried a better movie about this concept since.Battle Beyond the Stars,unfortunely,has much of Robert Corman's cheapness and rushed out productions.It looks as cheap as a tv movie-filmed in a week,with lots of despirate actors and little creativety.

Roger Corman is well known for creating b-movies,although this space epic is a good exception,it still looks low budget and cheaply made.The script and movie was filmed in only 5 weeks,on a budget of just two million to jump in on the ''Star Wars.''bandwagon,like Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers,was at this time.

James Cameron was originally hire to join the inhouse special effects team,who maybe should have directed the movie instead,proved himself effective and was quickly promoted to art director,who also functioned as an effects cameraman and model builder.This maybe why the film has a few creative looks to it,where as most New World Picture productions look as cheap as a weekend porno film.Many of this movies team would later stay with James Cameron on other projects.

However, long after its initial release, this film has had a renaissance of sorts, and is being rightly rediscovered as not only paying homage to "Star Wars" but a great many other films as well.

Many of the actors and crew members have created vibrant careers for themselves as a result of their work in this film and have gone on to even larger successes.

[after Shad and Company have arrived on Akir] Cayman of the Lambda Zone: HAIL THE CONQUERING HEROES! Shad: I'm sorry; they must be afraid. Cayman of the Lambda Zone: Afraid of what? Shad: All of you. They're not accustomed to violence, or to violent forms. Saint-Exmin: That's a hell of a note!

[as "Hammerhead," Sador's dreadnaught, is approaching Akir] Yago: This is Akir, a planet of stone with a single green spot. Sador: Let's see it. What about their forms? Yago: Comparable with ours. They have a solar technology. No known defense capacity. Sador: Interesting. Let's check that... [to Shad and the other Akira] Sador: ... [shouts] Sador: Hear me, beings of Akir. I am Sador of the Malmori. I have come with my forces to conquer you. If you resist, I will crush you. I possess a stellar converter, the most powerful weapon in the universe. You cannot resist me. I want your planet to be my colony. Your harvest comes in seven risings of your red giant. I shall return then, and you will accept me as your master. If you do not submit, your planet and all life on it will be burned to ash... [shouts] Sador: You are mine.

[Saint-Exmin has bested Shad and Nell in a dogfight] Saint-Exmin: The Valkyrie are great warriors. In our youth we must leave home, and fight in as many battles as possible, until we have proven ourselves. Shad: Well, you've proven yourself to be a pain in the neck. So why don't you just... Saint-Exmin: Because, all the same, I wish to join your war against the Malmori. Shad: [exasperated] My PLANET is in danger, and you're playing TAG with me! Your ship is like a toy; you have no firepower. Saint-Exmin: It is one of the fastest in the universe. Shad: Still, the Varda teach us that "swift rain is little rain." [He breaks it off with her] Nell: Pretty harsh, weren't you? Shad: You saw her. She was PLAYING with me. Nell: Yes... and she WON.

[in Gelt's lair and treasure chamber] Shad: I'm hiring mercenaries for defense of the planet Akir. But food and shelter are all we can offer in payment. All our wealth is in our culture. Gelt: I could buy your planet ten times over with what I've gathered in this room: plutonium, cadmium, quanine crystals... I've been very well paid for my work. Shad: I'm sorry; I've wasted your time... Gelt: NO... WAIT... Listen to the rest of it. I sleep with my back to the wall, when I CAN sleep. I EAT SERPENTS, seven times a week. There's not a major city in this galaxy where I can show my face, or spend my wealth. Right now, your offer looks very attractive to me... A meal, and a place to hide. Agreed?

[Cayman's "Zymer" charges "Hammerhead"] Cayman of the Lambda Zone: This is Cayman of the Lambda Zone, calling Sador of the Malmori. Turn around, you over-aged de-generate, and we'll bump heads! Sador: ...Of what form are you, Cayman? Cayman of the Lambda Zone: I am of the Lazuli. Sador: I thought I had the honor of making that form extinct, long ago! I won't fail this time! HERE I COME, CAYMAN OF THE LAZULI!

[in "Hammerhead's" "Sick Bay"] Sador: Are you capable of speech? Nestor 2: Yes, quite capable. Sador: And do you have a high tolerance for pain? Nestor 2: Almost none at all, I'm afraid. Sador: How unfortunate for you. So... How many ships do the Akira have, and what are their capabilities? Nestor 2: If I told you that, it would give you an unfair advantage. Sador: This is Frojo, my Third Officer. Frojo is expert at inflicting pain... while keeping the victim alive. Nestor 2: ...It's good to have skills.

[after a dogfight against the Malmori] Saint-Exmin: Shad, did you see me on the monitor? There was a fighter right on my tail... I pulled up... and smashed him into an asteroid! Shad: [grimly] I'm glad this is so much fun for you. These aren't YOUR people we're fighting for. Saint-Exmin: It's not that I don't empathize; That's the Valkyrie Creed: "Live fast, fight well and have a beautiful ending." Shad: [looking her in the eyes] NO VIOLENT DEATH IS BEAUTIFUL! Saint-Exmin: [smiling] You've never seen a Valkyrie go down...

[as Kalo suddenly breaks off their pursuit of Nell and Shad] Tembo: Why are we slowing down? Kalo: Orders were to guard the planet. Tembo: To hell with orders! I want that ship! Kalo: Remember Bilko? He disobeyed orders, and now Lord Sador's wearing HIS FOOT! Tembo: Right... Maybe we'd better go back.

Yago: [carrying a bag of ashes] Our emissary has returned from Umateal. They have replied to our ultimatum. Sador: ...And? [Yago hands him the bag; he examines the contents] Sador: ... What's this? Yago: It WAS our emissary, sir. They have... That is their reply to our ultimatum. [Sador throws the bag in a rage, just missing him] Yago: ... Obviously, they are a proud form. Sador: In an hour they'll be an EXTINCT one. There'll not be a trace of them left... Not even their dust.

[Nestor explains why "he" would like to participate in the Malmor-Akir War] Nestor 1: You see... There is only one Nestor, one consciousness. As you might imagine, this has proven very lonely and very dull. We must avoid becoming... we believe you have a phrase for it... becoming "bored to death."

[Shad can't bring himself to shoot down Kalo and Tembo's Malmori warship] Shad: Can we outrun them? Nell: We sure as hell can't OUTFIGHT them, not with YOU in the driver's seat...! [And after they've escaped] Nell: ... Turning my backside to those Malmori S.O.B.s! I can't believe it! You got no BACKBONE, kid! When Zed was your age... Shad: My job is ONLY to find mercenaries. And I'm NOT Zed. Nell: I'll say; Not even a pale imitation. Shad: [insulted] You know, I thought I did pretty well back there; YOU'RE still in one piece, aren't you? Nell: Oh, sure; If they ever start giving out prizes for running away, YOU'LL be Champion of the Universe!

["Hammerhead" returns to Akir but cannot find Kalo and Tembo] Sador: Could we POSSIBLY be out of range? Yago: Not at all, Sir. Something must be wrong... Sador: [disgusted] What's WRONG is that I have an army full of GENETIC MISTAKES! Why can't my minions be sophisticated or intelligent, like... well, like ME? Yago: Well, you can't expect ALL of us to measure up to YOU, Sir. Sador: Oh, don't flatter me!... Those two probably slammed their ship into an asteriod or something. Yago: Or they MAY have been shot down. Sador: Shot down? How? Akir has nothing to put in the air! Yago: Perhaps somebody came to help... Sador: Would YOU help AKIR against ME? Surely no one would do anything so stupid. Not even Kalo and Tembo!

Shad: [after being beamed aboard Nestor's ship] Okay, what's the big idea? [All 5 Nestors turn to face him] Shad: Don't everybody talk at once! [When none of the Nestors speak up, he draws his handgun] Shad: Listen, if I don't get some answers FAST, I'm gonna have to use this thing! [Nestor causes his own gun-hand to turn on him, aiming at his own head; he vainly attempts to wrench it away] Shad: ... Let me rephrase that. Nestor 1: [upon releasing Shad] You are not of a violent form. We sensed that you did not intend to shoot. Shad: You read my mind? Nestor 1: Among other things.

[Tembo and Kalo are monitoring an Akira wedding below] Tembo: Just look at her, Kalo! Kalo: We were ordered to guard this planet, remember? Tembo: Where's it gonna go? Come on, let's do it! Kalo: That would make you happy, wouldn't it? What the hell, they're only Akira! [They beam up the hapless bride; Later, when Shad arrives with the Mercenaries] Kalo: ... Tembo! Come on up here! Tembo: [laughing] I'm busy. Kalo: FORGET ABOUT HER! We've got seven unidentified objects on the monitor! Tembo: SEVEN OF THEM? What do you think we should do? Kalo: I don't know... Run away? Tembo: GOOD IDEA! [then, as they're being pursued] Tembo: Faster! It's gaining on us! Kalo: It can't be! We're already at full thrust! Tembo: Then turn around and face it, I'll try and shoot it down! Kalo: That's crazy, we don't even know what it is!

Akira Governor: We live by the Varda; the Varda is not to fight. The Akira haven't fought for centuries! Shad: The Varda teach us that each form has its function. Dr. Hephaestus: Forms must prey on other forms. Shad: That's not what the Varda teach us. We prey on nobody. Nell: The Varda say we can take life to save life. Nell: If it can't hurt you, forget about it. That's what the Varda say. Shad: [to St. Exmin] The Varda teach us that swift rain is little rain. Lux: [to the Mercenaries] The Varda teach us to trust first and judge later. Shad: The First Law of the Varda is to use greater strength/force against itself. Shad: The Varda teach us that no life-force is ended until all the lives that it has touched have ended, until all the good that it has done is gone.

Nanelia: ...It's a Malmori Sonic Tank. They're wearing sound vests in case they get in front of it. Even if we plug our ears, we can't get close enough to take it out. Cowboy: [to the nearby Kelvin, who are trying to get his attention] Will you two radiators stand back? It's hard enough to think! Nestor 1: It seems they're volunteering. Cowboy: What can THEY do? Nestor 1: For one thing, the Kelvin HAVE NO EARS.

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[edit] References This article does not cite any references or sources.Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

[edit] External linksBattle Beyond the Stars at the Internet Movie Database Battle Beyond the Stars at Allmovie Original trailer [hide] v • d • e American films of the 1980s

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